bristlenose injury

Question
QUESTION: Hi, i have had a bristlenose attacked by something in my tank (yabbie i think), and has a small chunk missing out of it's tail. The bristlenose is about 5cms long, and appears to be doing well except for the injury. He is acting very shy, and am wondering if there is anything i can do to help the injury along, or anything i can do to make the bristlenose feel more confortable/safe. I have removed the yabbie from the tank.

ANSWER: Hi Brett,

Well, you did the best thing you could do, by removing your Yabbie.

The Bristlenose will heal with time.  If you notice any white patches forming at the site of the injury, then add some salt, however, not in high doses, as Bristlenose are very susceptible to outside water parameter changes.

I think you're going to be okay and he should heal fine.  I have another guy who writes in sometimes, whose fish had a tumor on his fin.  He clipped it off and although it was sore for a week or so, the fin's growing back like normal.

Worry should occur when regrowth does not happen.  Give it a month or so and if his fin's not regrowing at all, then we need to take a closer look, by photo, to see what's going on with it, if anything at all.

Please feel free to write back anytime.

Happy fish-keeping.

Renee

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Reee,

I am sorry to bother you again, thankyou for your prompt response. I have just woken this morning to find another dead goldfish in my tank, that appears to have been nibbled at. I am now wondering, as this appeared after the removal of the yabbie, that it is a south american cichlid in my tank attacking everything. Could this be the case with the bristlenose? The cichlid and bristle are approx the same size, bristle maybe a little bigger.

ANSWER: Hi,

The bristlenose is not aggressive.

I would be more concerned with water parameters than the fishes in your tank.

Could you let me know how often you are changing tank water?

How often is the filter being maintained and thoroughly changed and what kind is it?

Often, people use canister filters.  They can be a good thing and a terribly bad one, depending on the owner's maintenance plans.

Nibbling at goldfish is normal.  Fishes eat dead fish.  I wouldn't think it's a cause for death.  Goldfish are hearty.

The thing that sends up my red flags is the goldfish in the tank.  Goldfish require extremely big aquariums, because they are severe poopers.  One fish - 25 gallons.  People don't know this.  Goldfish ruin water quality and cause severe nitrite and ammonia poisoning to their tankmates who can't breathe their poo water.

Have you done any water tests and if so, what are the results?

Let me know, and maybe together we can find some answers.

Have a good night and hope to hear back soon.

Renee

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Renee,
I am in Australia, so have no idea how much a gallon is. I have 5 gold fish at a time, along with 3 small bristle nose (4-7cms), one small cichlid (6cms) and one barramundi (11-12cms). This is all in a 220L tank. The gold fish are not residents of the tank, but food for the barra. I have a large filter, which is cleaned daily, and water tests and PH levels are also checked daily. I usually change 1/10 of the tank water daily, and 1/3 water change every 2 weeks. I have 3 other tanks in the house, but have never had yabbies before, that's why i was a little worried when i saw the injury. I have had fish for years, but normally do my research before putting something new in the tank. This time with the yabbie, my flatmate put one of his in my tank (as his were fighting), and that is what has caused the issue. I am pretty sure i was just freaking out at first, as this is the first time i have had an algae eater attacked by something. Thankyou again for your assistance.

Answer
I'm glad that you take good care of the tank.  Anytime I mention water quality issues, it's never pointing fingers at the owner. :)  Owners obviously love their fish or they wouldn't write in.

Water quality, regardless of good owners or not, is often an issue where goldfish are kept.  Keep it in mind.

Changing water daily is too often.  Maybe you can consider cutting back to once a week?  Your filter should filter enough that you don't have to clean it daily.  A filter should be rated for 800L if it's used in a 220L tank with goldfish.  It's important to triple the amount of filtration, because goldfish are big poopers and cause very serious water issues in captivity.  

You are very welcome, and if you have any further questions please feel free to inquire more.  I love helping people and I love fish very much.

Hapy fish-keeping.

renee